UNC leaders released; vow district issue alive

As assured by the Manipur government, at the tripartite meeting on Sunday, United Naga Council (UNC) president Gaidon Kamei and publicity secretary Shangkhel Stephen were released unconditionally.
However, Kamei reiterated that the demand of the people, to revoke the order of the creation of the new districts, was intact.
The opposition to creation of the seven new districts from Naga areas “is still the agenda of the talks and it would be the agenda of the political dialogue expected within a month time as agreed in the meeting (tripartite talk),” Gaidon said.
UNC president welcomed the decision of the new government for releasing them without any condition, saying “we really appreciate the new government and its initiative”.
Gaidon and Stephen were arrested by a team of Manipur police from Pheidinga along NH-2 on November 25 last year on charges of indulging in violent activities during the economic blockade.
Six different cases were also registered against UNC leaders at Mao, Tadubi and Nungba police stations.
While releasing the UNC leaders, the judicial magistrate court directed the complainants to appear before the court on March 27 so that the cases against them could be closed once and for all.
Investigating Officers of the cases in their submission stated that there were no evidences on the involvement of Gaidon Kamei and Shangkhel Stephen in the cases registered against them.
The UNC leaders after their release were later escorted by police to Senapati district headquarters where they were given a rousing reception at Senapati town hall.